Stirling Hart Wins the STIHL Timbersports Canadian Championship

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 07/20/14 -- A photo for this release will be available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwired.

Stirling Hart of Maple Ridge, B.C., won today's STIHL Timbersports Canadian Championship taking place at the Honda Indy in Toronto. He edged out Marcel Dupuis of Memramcook, N.B. in second and J.P. Mercier from St-Etienne, Que., in third.

"The competition at this level is amazing, so I'm just thrilled to take my first title," said Hart, who topped all competitors with 34 points. "As athletes we're separated by seconds in terms of how fast we can get though the wood. I was fortunate to put up consistently fast times in all six disciplines."

As the Canadian Champion, Hart earned one of four spots to compete for Team Canada at this year's World Championship in Innsbruck, Austria, Nov. 14-15. Dupuis, Mercier and Mitch Hewitt of Scotch Creek, B.C. will be join on Hart on the team. Hewitt, the defending champion with four titles, slipped to fourth after suffering a disqualification in the final Hot Saw discipline.

"Full credit to Stirling Hart, who is a rising star in our sport," said Team Canada coach Gerry Rizzo. "The best of the best come to compete in the STIHL Timbersports Series. We'll be sending a very strong Team Canada to compete at this year's World Championship."

The STIHL Timbersports Series is established worldwide as the major league of lumberjack sports, with a massive global fan-base following competitive events live and on TV. The sport originated in Canada where lumberjacks held local competitions to determine the best of their profession. Over time these tests of strength and skill evolved to a professional level and in 1985 the first STIHL Timbersports Series Championships were held. In Canada, STIHL Timbersports has consistently grown from a niche sport in the lumberjack community to a National Tour with over 15 competitions from east to west.

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